44 
THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
her whole collection by cutting and slashing them indis¬ 
criminately. In this instance it might appropriately be 
called a “ barbarous practice.” Whenever we have 
occasion to prune or dwarf a plant, let the act be tem¬ 
pered with common sense; we should never go to 
extremes in using the knife, nor in other practices of 
moment that may endanger the life of our plants. 
The Abutilon is easily propagated by cuttings and seed. 
If the seeds are sown as early as March they will make 
flowering plants the following winter. Plant the cuttings 
in moist sand, and place them in a sunny window. The 
following are among the later introductions, and are fine 
varieties: Boide de Neige, pure white; Rosa:flora, beau¬ 
tiful rose-color; Arthur Belsnam, dark crimson, large 
bells ; Couronni d'Or, deep sulphur yellow, a fine variety; 
Snow-Storm , pure white; Etenard , light crimson, a dis¬ 
tinct and free-blooming variety; John Hopkins, golden 
yellow, large flower, a free bloomer; Pluton, deep red, 
with darker veinings; Chamois, tan color; Coronet, large, 
blood-red bells; G. Delaux, violet carmine; Firefly, 
scarlet, an extra variety. There are several varieties with 
variegated foliage very fine for bedding purposes. I have 
found none with prettier leaves than Ameum macula- 
tum, Thompsonii, Vexillarium pictum. The latter is 
very useful for vases, being of a drooping, spreading 
habit. Thompsonii plena is the new double Abutilon, 
and the only one, I believe, in cultivation. This variety 
has its origin in a “ sport ” from Thompsonii variegata. 
It has the same beautiful foliage, mottled yellow and 
green, and the flowers are said to resemble in form a 
double Hollyhock; color, rich deep orange, shaded and 
streaked with crimson. As yet I have only seen a cut of 
this double variety. 
The Lantana is another tribe of plants that I would rank 
among those deserving of more extensive culture. I know 
not why they are neglected, as they apparently seem to 
be, for I seldom find a single specimen growing in the 
houses or gardens of my friends and acquaintances. It 
may be that they do not know their worth. 
I consider them one of our most obliging summer 
bedders, thriving well in a hot or dry season, sunshine or 
shade, blooming almost continuously ; and then they will 
do equally well as a winter bloomer in the house. The 
varieties of Lantana are almost numberless. The flowers 
are borne in Verbena-like heads, and the colors embrace 
shades of pink, white, purple, orange, carmine, and crim¬ 
son. 
I should advise treating this tribe of plants in the same 
“ barbarous ” manner recommended for the Abutilon. 
Some varieties can easily be trained upon a trellis, but for 
standard plants I prefer a straight single stem, and a 
good bushy top. There are a great many varieties that I 
have never tested, but the following, I think, will please 
the most fastidious : Alba grandiflora, pure white, fine ; 
Jeanne d’Arc, white, yellow centre, passing to violet; 
Madame Horte, golden yellow, passing to purple 
Favorite, yellow, passing into purplish crimson ; Rosa 
Mundi, white and rose; Craig, rich orange carmine, 
medium growth; Delicatissima, deep lilac, a dwarf 
variety; Harkett's Perfection, foliage green, variegated 
with yellow; flower, lilac, showy and constant; Raphael, 
purple, orange and rose ; La Nihge, a mass of snowy- 
white flowers, delicate and pretty; California, plant very 
dwarf, flowers dark yellow, completely covering the plant; 
Meteor, flowers small, pale yellow, passing to violet rose ; 
Prince de Galles, yellowish bronze, with a large fiery cen¬ 
tre, one of the best varieties; Le Styx, vivid red, passing 
to crimson purple, a beautiful variety. 
These plants may be propagated the same as Abu- 
tilons; seeds sown early will, with good culture, make 
flowering plants the following winter. 
Mrs. G. W. Flanders. 
NEW SEEDLING GLADIOLI. 
T HE Gladiolus growers, both in this country and 
Europe, annually send out a limited number of new 
varieties, and we are pleased to say that each year gives 
us some that are superior, in some respects, to the 
already long list of choice sorts. When we say this, we 
also wish to say that we cannot find any improvement 
in [certain classes over those introduced ten years ago. 
For instance, in their respective colors, we have nothing 
better than Shakespeare, Meyerbeer, M. Legouve and 
Eugene Scribe. In yellows and whites, there is a marked 
improvement, as the colors are purer, and the flowers are 
of more substance and of better form. 
The following varieties grown by M. Souchet, Fontaine¬ 
bleau, France, will be sent out this season for the first 
time : 
Ali. —The spike rather long, very compact, and well 
arranged; the flowers of good form, the upper divisions 
cream-colored, spotted and striped with red cerise ; the 
lower divisions, yellow, shaded rose, and reticulated with 
red purple. Amitie. —The spike very fine, and the 
flowers of exceptional size ; the divisions light rose-color 
marked with purple ; the lower divisions feathered with 
brilliant rose. Daphnis. —Very distinct and beautiful; 
the spike long and well arranged ; the flowers of full size 
and a pleasing rosy salmon, richly painted with purplish 
violet and spotted with white. Eugene Souchet .—The 
spike of medium size and well arranged ; the flowers of 
good shape and a rich rose-color, richly striped with pur¬ 
ple. Ganymede .—Spike rather long, and very compact; 
the flowers of medium size and a rich rosy carmine, 
shaded with amaranth. Gordon Pacha. —Spike rather 
long, and of bright rose carmine, beautifully painted and 
spotted with rose. Latone. —Spike of medium length, 
very compact, and richly feathered with delicate rose 
on a creamy-white ground. Madame Auber. —Spike 
rather short, and very compact; the flowers large and of 
grand form ; the color pale lilac, maculated with creamy 
white, and spotted with rose. Stanley. —A distinct 
